The Ds are masters at massively fucking shit up, and then running on a platform of unfucking what they massively fucked up by spending other people's money.

The reason Bernie got traction is student loans.

The Ds pushed through student loans, the cost of a community college or university education went from affordable to astronomical. In my state 2019 community college tuition is an inflation adjusted 550% of 1980 costs, and 2019 state college tuition is an inflation adjusted 300% to 425% of 1980 costs.

In 1980, a year's worth of community college was about $1000 in 2019 dollars. An individual could easily afford this with minimal belt tightening, and a PELL grant was enough to cover tuition. Today that same community college tuition is $5681 a year, and a PELL grant will cover maybe 25% of the tuition.

A year's university undergraduate tuition was about $3000 in 2019 dollars, and graduate school was about $4000 in 2019 dollars, both within reach to the average family, or earnable by the student with a summer job. Today that university costs about $10,000 a year, and as much as $40,000 a year for grad school.

Student loans have crippled an entire generation, and are now reaching in to a second generation. We need an R solution that does not involve unconditional forgiveness. I would suggest:

For future loans:

1. Loans for community college and university only, no $30,000 medical transcription certificates

2. Undergraduate loans for tuition and books only, no housing; you can live with mom and dad, or do like I did and live in a disgusting shithole with a bunch of other people.

3. Community college loans for certificate courses, or core transfer credits only.

4. University loans for STEM only.

5. Zero interest for first ten years of loan balance.

6. Loan payments not to exceed 20% of gross income.

7. Any income tax refunds go directly to loan payoff.

8. Federal government makes loans, not a private entity. Private entities forbidden from making student loans.

9. Significant fines & other penalties for any college/university not graduating at least 90% of loan holders.

For Current Loans:

1. Federal government purchases all outstanding loans at face value plus inflation from inception, minus payments made.

2. Loans not subject to credit reporting. All past missed/late payments to be expunged from credit record.

3. Student loans dischargeable in bankruptcy, like any other consumer debt.

4. Allow debtors to work off up to 25% of loan by volunteering for a charity at a rate equivalent to 50% of minimum wage.

5. Loan balances reset to face value plus inflation from inception, minus payments made.

6. Zero percent interest.

7. Loan payments not to exceed 20% of gross income.

8. Any income tax refunds go directly to loan payoff.